FRIDAY
South Florida (7-5) vs. Clemson (6-6), noon (ESPN)
Line: Clemson by 4.
Series Record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Clemson QB Kyle Parker tries to leave a winner after a disappointing season. Parker, who sacrificed $800,000 from baseball’s Colorado Rockies to play one more season of football, has thrown 10 interceptions and was benched in the regular-season finale against South Carolina. Before he heads to the minor leagues in the spring, he’ll start ahead of Tajh Boyd and face South Florida’s stout defense.
KEY MATCHUP
South Florida QBs B.J. Daniels and Bobby Eveld vs. Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers. South Florida coach Skip Holtz said he’ll play both quarterbacks, who will attempt to stay away from Bowers. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner had nation-best 15 1/2 sacks and ranked second with 24 tackles for a loss.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bowers, a junior, could be playing his final college game if he declares early for the NFL draft. Bowers is projected to be one of the first players taken. … South Florida KR Lindsey Lamar, who has returned two kickoffs for TDs, is the Big East special teams player of the year. He ranks 13th in the nation in kick return average (28.1 yards) and 27th in punt returns (10.2 yards).
FACTS & FIGURES
Clemson is ninth in nation in scoring defense (17.8 points) and South Florida 19th (19.5). … USF is playing in sixth straight bowl, the first of which was 14-0 loss to North Carolina State in this game in 2005. … Bulls need win to extend streak of eight-win seasons to five. … USF has won four of six. … USF first-year coach Skip Holtz returns to the Carolinas, where he guided East Carolina and was also an assistant at South Carolina, Clemson’s top rival. … USF’s defense hasn’t allowed a point in the fourth quarter of its five bowl games. … USF’s Daniels is healthy after thigh injury knocked him out of second half of Miami win and UConn loss to close regular season. … Clemson needs victory to secure 11th straight winning season. … Bowers needs one sack to break Keith Adams’ single-season school record. … Clemson has made just 12 of 21 FGs, with seven misses inside 40 yards. … The Charlotte, N.C., bowl chose Clemson over Maryland because the school’s just a 2 1/2-hour drive. Ticket sales are sluggish, however, with a crowd under 50,000 expected.
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